The Bengals stood by Odell Thurman through various substance abuse transgressions, a DUI, a two-year NFL suspension and a reinstatement. Marvin showed him "tough love" along the way, by kicking him out of the locker room. But right before Thurman could finally play again, the team cut him. Why now?
The centerpiece on a 2005 defense that created turnovers like you and I drink ice water, Thurman led the team in tackles. The Bengals D never re-captured its playmaking identity with Thurman out of the picture. So he must have really ticked Marvin and Mike Brown off to get a pink slip.
Reportedly Marvin told Thurman's agent that Odell "wasn't around the stadium enough", in so many words. Odell's grandmother recently passed away in Monticello, GA, and Thurman traveled back for her funeral. Betty Thurman helped raise Odell, who lost his mother in a car accident when he was 10 years old. The LB missed voluntary workouts, a chance to "catch up" on the football field, to tend to family matters.
But it has to go deeper than that. Maybe Odell wasn't showing the team enough commitment when he wasn't coping with family issues. I know if I was in Odell's shoes, with so much to lose and this my last chance in Cincinnati, that I would be living at the stadium, in my coach's office, and in the weight room, in an effort to re-gain the trust that was broken with a series of bad off-the-field decisions.
Shortly after Thurman's reinstatement, Marvin Lewis said "He needs to do things the right way. Constantly." Evidently that inconsistency convinced Marvin to part ways with one of the best defensive playmakers PBS has had in some time.
~Zach
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What's the bigger shame? Giving Thurman the boot or the fact that I bought his jersey the day of the 2005 playoff game at PBS and haven't worn it since? Definitely giving Thurman the Boot. You can't be too mad because the last thing we need is to be giving more and more opportunities to those that don't deserve it only so they can make the bengals and Zinzinnati look worse. Problem is it "seems" like Odell deserved the chance and I think we all would have liked to see some of that 2005 D on the field. In the end, it is one of those things we just need to leave alone and move on, it's not like we are going to reinstate him. Focus on the youth...I guess. That goes for Chad as well. He's not gone yet but he could be. I'd rather see him buck up and play but if not, then focus on the youth (Simpson).
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